Astor House Proposal To
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CITY OF GOLDEN PLANNING STAFF REPORT FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION BOARD AGENDA CASE NO: HPB 21-05 MEETING DATE: May 3, 2021 APPLICANT: REQUESTED ACTION: Certificate of Appropriateness: Certificate of Design Review and Finding of Compatibility for an internal remodel, external repairs and rear addition located at 822 12th Street, in the 12th Street Historic District EXHIBITS: Resolution HPB 21-05 Vicinity Map Secretary of the Interior’s Standards Review Memo regarding expansion and the ‘yard’ Application SUMMARY An application has been submitted to the City of Golden Historic Preservation Board to consider a certificate of design review and a finding of compatibility for external repairs and a rear addition, located at 822 12th Street, the Astor House, a contributing structure within the 12th Street Historic District and Landmark Property in the City of Golden. Pursuant to the Historic District Residential Design Guidelines (Guidelines), the Historic Preservation Board (HPB) requires a review prior to the issuance of a building permit for renovation and new construction of this type to any structure within a historic district. The HPB should review the proposal, make any design suggestions, and adopt a resolution documenting the review. BACKGROUND The Astor House is located at 822 12th Street and was built in approximately 1867 and is listed as a contributing structure in the 12th Street Historic District. The Astor House is also a Landmark Property in the City, designated in 2020. Over the past 148 years the Building has played multiple and important roles in the City of Golden. These range from museum, to boarding house to hotel during the Territorial capital days. Much has been presented to the Historic Board about the importance of both honoring and preserving the Astor House as an important part of Golden History, while also allowing it to be a working and link to the downtown and 12th St Historic District. The important facts regarding this historic structure and its role in history not only for Golden but the State of Colorado are provided in the application, Foothills Art Center, application packet submittal, see attached. The Board’s Astor House Structure Report was also consulted for this applicant and review. Currently the building (since 2015) has sat vacant following the City’s stabilization and rehabilitation efforts. The Applicant wishes to repair the building internally and externally, and add an addition to the existing structure in the rear of the property. This addition aims to complement the existing design Historic Preservation Board HPB 21-05 May 3, 2021 and allow for a more creative addition that both complements the existing building and opens it up for new and creative uses for the future. DISCUSSION OF DESIGN REVIEW CRITERIA The Historic Preservation Board most often addresses additions or changes to an existing structure. In order to appropriately address exterior changes, it is instructive to review the specific code criteria and purpose for the review. Section 18.58.060(3) contains the criteria for changes to or demolition of existing structures. The Golden Historic District Residential Guidelines (Guidelines) reviews materials for additions and alterations and states, “For additions or repairs, use materials similar in type and scale to those of the existing building”. The proposed changes with the addition of an existing structure are reviewed under the Historic Guidelines for consistency with the original architecture, streetscape and the neighborhood. Additionally, the project was reviewed for compliance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards by Cindy Nasky with the Colorado Historical Foundation, see the attached memo. The Applicant has proposed that materials and appearance on the repairs will be as close as possible to the existing structure. No proposed rehabilitation to the existing structure maintains the entire structure with the exception of a small 1950’s rear addition. This addition is outside the period of significance for the Astor House. While the COA: Certificate of Design Review is ultimately a recommendation, the HPB may wish to review the structure under the historic building addition criteria to document the proposed changes. The guidelines for additions and alterations apply for the addition. In the attached review of the historic district standards and guidelines, the rehabilitation of the Astor House and the rear addition meet the Board’s standards and guidelines with a white colored addition in contrasting, but complementary materials and similar form with a functional two-story addition meeting the Foothills Art Center’s need for gallery space. Astor House Yard Staff is attaching a memorandum in light of recent citizen correspondence to the City Council and some members of the Historic Preservation Board regarding the expansion of the addition further into the yard. Staff confirms that the expansion into the yard does not require a vote, per the City Charter, for the expansion. The Board may discuss the expansion as a policy matter during its deliberations. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff has reviewed the requested changes to 822 12th Street using the Board’s standards and guidelines. The addition clearly meets the Guidelines and staff recommends approval without any conditions. The addition also meets the intent of the Guidelines as the colors and roofline are complementary to the principal structure with modern materials. The modern materials distinguish this addition from the Historic Structure. In review of the proposed addition, considering the Landmark status of the structure, the changes proposed do meet the Guidelines. Staff advises the Board that the application meets the applicable review criteria. The rehabilitation and new addition also meet the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards, per the independent review of the Colorado Historical Foundation. 2 Historic Preservation Board HPB 21-05 May 3, 2021 DRAFT MOTION In the matter of Case HPB 21-05, a request for COA: Certificate of Design Review and a Finding of Compatibility for the proposed addition residential noncontributing structure, located at 822 12th Street, I move that the Historic Preservation Board the findings, recommendations and conditions found in the attached Resolution No. HPB 21-05. 3 Standards and Description Staff Review Guideline 3.2.a Maintain existing sidewalk and tree lawn The exiting streetscape (devoid of street trees) at Streetscape: treatment. 822 12th Street/Arapahoe is not proposed to Standards change with this project, although there are City- led efforts to gain funding to improve it from its current condition to a more inviting pedestrian environment. 3.2.a Landscaping should be limited to street trees, The exiting streetscape at 822 12th Streetscape: specimen trees as focal points, and massing of Street/Arapahoe is not proposed to change with Guidelines shrubbery near the building. this project due to the buildings’ location. 3.2.b Site: Locate accessory buildings such as sheds and The change on this site is taking place in the rear Standards garages at the rear of the lot, as is traditional. of the lot with the addition. No new accessory buildings are proposed. 3.2.b Site: Sidewalks should be rectilinear and should No new access is proposed in the front of the Guidelines maintain traditional patterns paralleling the site, and access will be maintained to and from streets. the rear yard from Arapahoe and the surrounding parking area. The Astor House is being Repair of building, landscape and streetscape rehabilitated and repaired as part of this project. elements should reinforce the historic The Board’s Astor House Report is able to character. Repair will also generally include inform the building repairs through analysis and replacement with a similar or compatible historical photographs. material. Physical evidence and or photos should be used as a guide when replacing an entire feature of the building, landscape or streetscape that is too deteriorated to repair. 3.2.c Spacing: Locate additions to existing houses back from The new addition of the Astor House is being Standards the front facade so the visual quality of located in the rear of the lot. spacing is preserved. 3.2.c Spacing: Preserve the existing setback characteristic of The new addition of the Astor House is being Guidelines the block. Porches, decks, solid fences, or located in the rear of the lot and is in line with other similar additions should not intrude into the existing house. this space, and are more appropriate at the rear of the building. Additions to a building should maintain the overall sense of size of the building. 3.2.d Open Maintain openness between the street and the There is not existing space between the front of Area & house. house and 12th Street. The project is proposing Landscape: to rehabilitate the rear yard area around the new Standards addition. 3.2.d Open Limit front yard landscaping to street and No space for landscaping in the front as there is Area & specimen trees and massing of shrubbery near not a yard; however, the landscaping will be in Landscape: the building. the rear yard, where it has been traditionally on Guidelines this lot. Preserve the landscape entry on the street frontage, even if internal layout requires an alternative or secondary entry location. 3.2.e Alleys: Preserve the use of alleys to provide access to This property does not have traditional alley Standards the rear of properties. access, however no new driveways are being proposed. 3.2.e Alleys: Efforts should be made to protect the variety This property does not have an alley that is in Guidelines of shape, size, and alignment of buildings anyway preserved. along the alleys. 3.2.f Building To the extent practicable, locate the new The new addition is on the rear of the property Variety: addition at the rear or on an inconspicuous and is scaled to be subservient to Astor House Standards side of the historic building.